Stoma filter guard

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a filter and guard assembly for a trachea neck stoma as used, for example, by a laryngectomee. The assembly comprises a frame and a foamed polyester urethane filter element or pad carried by the frame which is formed so as to position the filter outwardly of the stoma, the frame lying against the neck area of the user which is adjacent the stoma.

United States Patent [191 Ferrell STOMA FILTER GUARD [76] Inventor: Robert G. Ferrell, 1055 E. 52nd St.,

Indianapolis, Ind. 46205 22 Filed: May31, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 258,454

[52] U.S;Cl. 128/140 5 Int. Cl A6lfl3/00,A6lf 15/00, A6lm15/00 58 Field of Search 128/140, 172, 132, 139,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,606,553 8/1952 Taintor 128/132 R 3,001,201 9/1961 Hauser 128/296 3,038,470 6/1962 Campbell 128/146.6 1,502,450 7/1924 Wood 128/146.6 2,845,927 8/1958 Hill 128/146.6 1,279,884 9/1918 LaRoche 128/139 [451 May 21,1974

3,464,410 9/1969 Buchanan 128/140 R 3,101,709 8/1963 Gruenewaelder 128/146.2 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 542,079 12/1941 Great Britain 128/146.6

111,411 11/1917 Great Britain 128/146.6

Primary ExaminerRichard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-Henry J Recla v Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Woodard, Weikart, Emhardt & Naughton S 7] ABSTRACT Disclosedis a filter and guard assembly for a trachea neck stoma as used, for example, by a laryngectomee. The assembly comprises a frame and a foamed polyester urethane filter e'lement'or pad carried by the frame which is formed so as to position the filter outwardly of the stoma, the frame lying against the neck area of the user which is adja'centthe stoma.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAY 21 1974 1181 1.436

1 STOMA FILTER GUARD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION People, such as laryngectomees, who must breathe through a trachea neck stoma, customarily utilize a bib type, air pervious flexible member or flap which is tied around the neck of the wearer and which overlies the stoma. These devices are not entirely satisfactory for one reason, among others, in that they lie against the stoma and the collar, necktie or similar clothing of the wearer tends to press and hold the flexible bib directly against the marginal area surrounding the stoma. A neck tie cannot be worn comfortably under these conditions. Breathing is somewhat obstructed causing coughing, and since acquisition of speech depends closely upon uninhibited and untroubled breathing through the trachea stoma, the time necessary for acquiring speech after a laryngectomy is often prolonged.

The assembly of the present invention utilizes a disposable filter pad which is held by a relatively rigid wire frame. The frame is provided with'a curved, or generally concavo-convex configuration so that the filter pad when clamped on the frame is somewhat cupped with its concave side nearest the wearers stoma. The filter pad is thus held spaced outwardly somewhat from the stoma by the frame. The outer clothing such as shirt collar and necktie can thus be worn without irritating pressure. The frame is provided with means for supporting it in place on the wearers undergarment, for example, and such means may take the form of hooks formed along the top margin of the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the structure of the present invention, including the filter pad in place in the frame.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the frame component of FIG. I.

FIG. 3 is an end view, taken from the lower end, of the frame structure of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the frame structure of FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the filter and guard assembly of the present invention in place on a wearer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As may be seen in FIG. 5 the filter and guard assembly of the present invention, indicated generally at is worn in overlying relation to the trachea stoma of the wearer, the assembly being provided with hooks or other suitable fastening means 11 for securing the assembly in place, to the inner surface ofa conventional turtle-neck type undershirt.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the assembly 10 may be seen to include a substantially rigid frame, formed of suitable wire. The frame includes a generally U-shaped frame member 12, the leg ends of which are spanned by a transverse frame member 13. As will be particularly evident from FIG. 3 the transverse frame member 13 has a bowed configuration and its central portion extends out of the plane defined by the U-shaped member 12. The ends of the transverse member 13 may be formed to provide the hooks 11 previously referred to.

The frame further includes a central element lfi extending between the transverse member 13 and the curved base of the U-shaped member 12. The central element 16 is provided with a configuration which will be evident from FIG. 4 and in which the major portion of its length is disposed outwardly of the plane defined by the U-shaped member 12.

A second U-shaped member 17, having a configuration substantially coinciding with the frame member 12 closely overlies the frame member 12 and is joined to it at its upper ends and to the adjacent portions of the transverse member 13. As may be seen in FIG. 1 the U- shaped member 17 closely overlies the member 12 and interposed between them is a removable filter element taking the form of a pad of air pervious material, the pad beingidentified at 18. The pad 18 is preferably formed of an air pervious material such as foamedpolyester urethane. The pad 18 isheld in place, as viewed in FIG. 1, by the spring action of the adjacent U-shaped members 12 and 17. As will be evident from FIG. 1, the pad 18 may be easily removed by slipping it out from between the frame members and a replacement pad may, likewise, be inserted between the frame members.

In operation, the assembly is fastened in place on the wearer as shown in FIG. 5 or may be held in place by means of a cordor chain encircling the neck of the wearer. As will be evident from FIG. .1 the bowed configuration of the transverse member 13 and the outwardly extending central portion of the central member 16 serves to provide a concavo-convex configuration to the flexible filter pad 18, holding the central portion of the pad spaced slightly from the throat of the wearer while the marginal portion of the pad is held in close relation to the throat surface of the wearer. The relative rigidity of the frame permits a necktie to be. worn comfortably over the filter assembly. Filtering of the air by the filter pad aids in eliminating coughing and tends to keep the stoma moist, eliminating or minimizing bleeding and scaling at the stoma margin. Since the filter is held away from the stoma, clothing does not interfere with breathing. Filter pads can be disposed of and replaced conveniently thus assuring desirable cleanliness conditions. Since breathing is uninhibited and coughing is minimized, one primary advantage of the structure of the present invention is the facilitating of the reacquiring of speech by the wearer after a laryengectomy.

I claim:

l. A filter and guard assembly adapted to overlie a trachea neck stoma comprising a substantially rigid first U-shaped member a transverse frame member spanning the distance between the leg ends of said U- shaped member, said transverse member having a bowed configuration with its central portion extending out of the plane of said U-shaped member, a central frame element extending from one side of and between said transverse member central portion and the curved base of said U-shaped member with the major portion of its length disposed out of the plane of said U-shaped member, a second U-shaped frame member secured at its leg ends to the leg ends of said first mentioned U- shaped member with the remaining portion unattached and extending in closely spaced overlying relation to said first U-shaped member on the same side as said central frame and a filter pad removably held between said U-shaped members.

2. A stoma filter and guard assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which fastening members are formed at the ends of said transverse member to permit said frame and the filter pad carried thereby to be secured in overlying relation to the stoma of the wearer.

* k I a 

1. A filter and guard assembly adapted to overlie a trachea neck stoma comprising a substantially rigid first U-shaped member a transverse frame member spanning the distance between the leg ends of said U-shaped member, said transverse member having a bowed configuration with its central portion extending out of the plane of said U-shaped member, a central frame element extending from one side of and between said transverse member central portion and the curved base of said U-shaped member with the major portion of its length disposed out of the plane of said Ushaped member, a second U-shaped frame member secured at its leg ends to the leg ends of said first mentioned U-shaped member with the remaining portion unattached and extending in closely spaced overlying relation to said first U-shaped member on the same side as said central frame and a filter pad removably held between said U-shaped members.
 2. A stoma filter and guard assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which fastening members are formed at the ends of said transverse member to permit said frame and the filter pad carried thereby to be secured in overlying relation to the stoma of the wearer. 